Israel’s justification for the killing of over 100 Palestinians at a school in Gaza City has raised questions of proportionality. With a history of almost 40,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, Israel’s military uses disproportionate violence, aiming to destroy Hamas at any cost, even if it means civilian casualties. The ‘Dahiyeh doctrine’ from the 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon highlights Israel’s strategy of targeting civilian infrastructure.
Despite international condemnation and efforts by the International Criminal Court to hold Israeli leaders accountable for war crimes, little has changed in Israel’s military tactics. The cycle of violence continues, driven by impunity and unwavering support from allies like the US. Until Israel faces consequences for its actions, civilian casualties in attacks are likely to persist.
An ongoing debate surrounds the concept of proportionality in Israeli warfare, as analysts question the ethics and legality of targeting civilians to assassinate Hamas figures. The lack of accountability for past atrocities has emboldened Israel to carry out brutal attacks without fear of repercussions.